1 in 5 commercial properties reporting lower EPC ratings in run up to MEES

News

Our latest research has demonstrated a number of worrying results given that the introduction of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) is looming.

With the regulations coming into force on 1st April 2018, we have found that 1 in 5 commercial properties now have a lower EPC rating, after being re-simulated through the latest version of SBEM 5.4.a. As many more commercial properties fall into lower categories, this could mean that a high number of those EPCs are now F or G rated.

Our research conducted last year found that a third of commercial properties thought to meet the MEES regulations may in fact fall foul to the legislation.

A year on, although that figure may have improved slightly, there are still a worrying number of properties that now have lower ratings. Our research has shown that 60% of our 3,600 properties are now D, E, F or G rated properties. Within those categories, 11% of properties have now fallen to an F or G rating. As the regulations prohibit landlord to lease buildings with an EPC lower than E, this is quite concerning.

Overall, 15% of properties on the platform are now rated F or G, and with time running out, improvement measures must be implemented now.